Two separate bills sponsored by State Sen. Cliff Hite, R-Findlay, concerning agricultural pollution and establishing a state “Meningitis Awareness Day”, were signed into law today by Gov. John Kasich.

Kasich signed Senate Bill 150, which provides standards to ensure proper use of agricultural nutrients like fertilizer. It also requires the chief of the Ohio Division of Soil and Water Resources to establish standards to develop a plan to address agricultural pollution in Ohio’s streams and lakes.

“There is no denying that Ohio has an algae problem growing in our streams and lakes,” Hite, who serves as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said in a press release. “This is one step in addressing this issue through common sense standards for applying agriculture nutrients.”

Kasich also signed Senate Bill 275, which names March 9 of each year as “Meningitis Awareness Day.” Hite sponsored the bill in honor of his niece, Tess, who died of meningitis on March 9, 1999.